EP0106368A1 - Circuit de réduction de bruit pour une caméra de télévision à état solide - Google Patents

Circuit de réduction de bruit pour une caméra de télévision à état solide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0106368A1
EP0106368A1 EP83110427A EP83110427A EP0106368A1 EP 0106368 A1 EP0106368 A1 EP 0106368A1 EP 83110427 A EP83110427 A EP 83110427A EP 83110427 A EP83110427 A EP 83110427A EP 0106368 A1 EP0106368 A1 EP 0106368A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
video signal
low
frequency band
pass filter
band component
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP83110427A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0106368B1 (fr
Inventor
Hiroshi Kudo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hitachi Ltd
Original Assignee
Hitachi Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hitachi Ltd filed Critical Hitachi Ltd
Publication of EP0106368A1 publication Critical patent/EP0106368A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0106368B1 publication Critical patent/EP0106368B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
    • H04N25/60—Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a noise reduction circuit arrangement of a video camera and more particularly to a noise reduction circuit arrangement suitable for reducing noises under low brightness operation of a video camera of the type which utilizes a solid-state image pickup device (semiconductor image pickup device) as an imaging element.
  • a solid-state image pickup device semiconductor image pickup device
  • the solid-state image pickup device for use in such a solid-state video camera has low sensitivity to photoelectric conversion and suffers from large noise outputs as compared to image pickup tubes which inherently have high sensitivity. Therefore, in the solid-state video camera, a problem has arisen wherein the S/N ratio is degraded especially when brightness signals corresponding to brightness of an object are low, that is, the video camera operates under low brightness conditions.
  • a video signal produced from an image pickup device is fed to a low-pass filter 2 and a high-pass filter 3 so as to be divided into a low-frequency band component and a high-frequency band component.
  • These components are then amplified at buffer amplifiers 4a and 4b, respectively, to have desired amplitudes and subsequently added at an adder circuit 10. In this manner, aperture correction can be effected.
  • amplitude components of the high-frequency band component which are below a predetermined amplitude level are removed by a base clipper circuit 1 prior to adding the high-frequency band component and the low-frequency band component at the adder circuit 10, thereby reducing noises.
  • the noise reduction circuit is invalid for reduction of noises contained in signals of large level because the base clipper circuit 1 uniformly cuts off signals referenced to the invariably predetermined small level and besides, this noise reduction circuit has an effect on medium and high brightness signals inclusive of a small amount of noises because signals are cut off at a fixed level irrespective of the magnitude of amplitude of the brightness signals. As a result, useful signals, so long as they are small in level, are all blackened on display.
  • This invention contemplates elimination of the prior art drawbacks and has for its object to provide a noise reduction circuit arrangement suitable for use in a solid-state video camera which can significantly be directed to reduce noises under low brightness operation in which degradation of the S/N ratio is imminent.
  • frequency characteristics of one channel for a high-frequency band component included in channels constituting an aperture correction circuit are changed in accordance with the magnitude of amplitude of an input video signal so that the amount of the high-frequency band component can be more decreased when brightness of the video signal is low than when brightness of the video signal is high.
  • the high-frequency band component can be decreased to reduce noises in an output video signal under low brightness operation whereas the delivery of the high-frequency band component inclusive of a small amount of noises under high brightness operation can be sufficient, thereby ensuring that output video signals effective to provide pictures of high quality can be obtained.
  • the base clipper circuit can be dispensed with. Accordingly, the elimination of the useful signals by the base clipper circuit does not occur and pictures of high quality can be obtained.
  • Fig. 2 There is shown therein in block form one embodiment of a noise reduction circuit arrangement under low brightness operation. This embodiment is particularly adapted for a case wherein a frequency characteristic as viewed from the output of a high-pass filter 3A to be described later has such a pass characteristic that decreases in a frequency band which is lower than a high-frequency band inclusive of a large number of noises.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 like element are designated by like reference numerals.
  • Fig. 2 there are also provided an integrator circuit 5, a level comparator 6, and a correction circuit 7 adapted to change high frequency characteristics.
  • a video signal is fed to a low-pass filter 2 and the high-pass filter 3A and at the same time, also applied to the integrator circuit 5 which in turn produces a signal of a level in accordance with a magnitude of amplitude of the input video signal.
  • the level comparator 6 compares the output level of the integrator circuit 5 with a reference level to produce a first control signal when the output level is higher than the reference level and a second control signal when the output level is lower than the reference level.
  • the reference level is so set that the first control signal is delivered out when the input video signal has medium or high brightness and the second control signal is delivered out when the brightness' is low.
  • the frequency characteristic correction circuit 7 operates to slightly enhance a high-frequency band component of the video signal delivered out of the high-pass filter 3A when receiving the first control signal but not to enhance the same when receiving the second control signal. Accordingly, under the medium or high brightness operation in which degradation of the S/N ratio is not imminent, a low-frequency band component delivered out of the low-pass filter 2 and the high-frequency band component from the high-pass filter 3A being slightly increased are fed to an adder circuit 10 through buffer amplifiers 4a and 4b, respectively. Thus, an output video signal which is improved in frequency characteristics can be delivered out of the adder circuit 10.
  • the frequency characteristics or frequency/response characteristic of the frequency characteristic correction circuit 7 is so set that the output from the high-pass filter 3A is amplified to an extent that the high-frequency band component inclusive of a number of noises is not passed, and the thus amplified high-frequency band component is applied to the adder circuit 10 through the buffer amplifier 4b, which in turn adds this component and a low-frequency band component sent from the low-pass filter 2 through the buffer amplifier 4a. Consequently, an output video signal removed of the high-frequency component inclusive of a number of noises, in comparison with the aforementioned video signal which is improved in frequency characteristics, can be delivered out of the adder circuit 10.
  • Fig. 2 The embodiment of Fig. 2 will now be described in greater detail with reference to Fig. 3.
  • like reference numerals represent like elements.
  • the integrator circuit 5 comprises a resistor 11 and a' capacitor 12 and the video signal applied to the integrator circuit 5 is smoothed thereby and sent to the level comparator 6 which is a difference circuit constituted by, for example, a pair of transistors having emitters connected in common.
  • the smoothed signal is applied to the base of one transistor 13 of the difference circuit.
  • Applied to the base of the other transistor 14 is a reference bias of a predetermined value.
  • the transistor 13 is turned on by being applied with a base voltage which is higher than that applied to the other transistor 14.
  • the one transistor 13 is turned on under medium or high brightness operation and turned off under low brightness operation. With this transistor 13 turned on, it follows that a capacitor 15 is equivalently connected in-parallel with a resistor 16 as will be seen from Fig. 3. Consequently, under this condition, gain of a transistor 17 increases as compared to a case wherein the transistor 13 is turned off as will be described below.
  • the transistor 13 is turned off as described previously with the result that the capacitor 15 is equivalently disconnected from the resistor 16. Accordingly, the capacitor 15 has no effect on the gain of the transistor 17. Obviously, under this condition, the gain of the transistor 17 decreases as compared to the case wherein the capacitor 15 is equivalently connected in parallel with the resistor 16 as described previously.
  • Such a change of the gain of the transistor 17 may be considered in terms of frequency characteristics of the entire circuit, that is, frequency characteristics as viewed from the output of the adder circuit 10 and illustrated as shown in Fig. 4. More particularly, under a condition that the capacitor 15 has an effect on the gain of the transistor 17 when the capacitor is equivalently connected in parallel with the resistor 16, a frequency characteristic as represented by a curve d is obtained whereby response R (dB) is raised near the fall of a frequency characteristic represented by a curve e which is obtained in the absence of the aforementioned influence.
  • the high-frequency band component fed to the adder circuit 10 through the buffer amplifier 4b can be extended.
  • the capacitor 15 has no effect on the gain of the transistor 17, the frequency characteristic represented by curve e is obtained as described previously. Under this condition, the high-frequency band component inclusive of a large number of noises is cut off.
  • the base clipper circuit 1 is not provided for the high-frequency band component channel but it may be provided if the noise reduction effect by the high-pass filter 3A is insufficient. Since, in this case, the noise has already been reduced in comparison with that in the prior art circuit, the clipping level may be set to a smaller value than that of the prior art circuit. Consequently, the unwanted elimination of the useful signals can be suppressed, thereby making it possible to obtain pictures of high quality.
  • a dashed curve A represents the gain which the circuit 7 comprised of the transistor 17 assumes when the capacitor has an effect on the gain of the transistor 17 and a dashed curve B represents the gain of the'circuit 7 in the absence of the influence.
  • Fig. 5 another embodiment of the noise reduction circuit arrangement under low brightness operation will be described.
  • This embodiment is particularly adapted for a case wherein a frequency characteristic as viewed from the output o' a high-pass filter 3B to be described later has a pass characteristic by which the output decreases in a frequency band for the high-frequency band component inclusive of a large number of noises.
  • like reference numerals designate like elements.
  • a video detector 5a including a rectifier element and a correction circuit 7A adapted to change high frequency characteristics.
  • a signal of a level in accordance with a magnitude of amplitude of the video signal is produced from the video detector 5a in a manner well known in the art.
  • a level comparator 6 compares the level of the output signal from the video detector 5a with a predetermined reference level to produce a high level control signal when the output signal is higher than the reference level and a low level control signal when the output signal is lower than the reference level.
  • a transistor 7a is turned on and a transistor 7b is turned off when the high level control signal is produced, that is, when the video signal is of medium or high brightness, so that a capacitor 7C floats and hence the output of the high-pass filter 3B is directly fed to a buffer amplifier 4b.
  • each of the video detector 5a, level comparator 6 and high frequency correction circuit 7A has no effect on an aperture correction circuit.
  • the previous condition is inverted to render the transistor 7a off and the transistor 7b on, so that the high-frequency band component inclusive of a large number of noises being produced from the high-pass filter 3B is bypassed to ground through the capacitor 7C.
  • an output video signal with a reduced noise under low brightness operation can be delivered out of an adder circuit 10.
  • the aforementioned control signal may also be used as a signal for automatic iris control and automatic gain control circuits (not shown) of the video camera.
  • the capacitance of the capacitor 7C included in the correction circuit 7A must be set ) to a value which can reduce the noises without disturbing the video signal. This is because as the capacitance increases, the frequency characteristic of the signal fed from the high-pass filter 3B to the buffer amplifier 4b changes as shown at curves a, b and c in Fig. 6. An 5 unduly large capacitance will not eliminate the noises only to cut off the video signal.
  • a base clipper circuit 1 may be provided for the high-frequency band component channel or the paired buffer amplifiers 0 4a and 4b may be dispensed with.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Picture Signal Circuits (AREA)
  • Transforming Light Signals Into Electric Signals (AREA)
EP83110427A 1982-10-20 1983-10-19 Circuit de réduction de bruit pour une caméra de télévision à état solide Expired EP0106368B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP182820/82 1982-10-20
JP57182820A JPS5972871A (ja) 1982-10-20 1982-10-20 固体ビデオカメラの低輝度時雑音低減装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0106368A1 true EP0106368A1 (fr) 1984-04-25
EP0106368B1 EP0106368B1 (fr) 1986-08-13

Family

ID=16125024

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83110427A Expired EP0106368B1 (fr) 1982-10-20 1983-10-19 Circuit de réduction de bruit pour une caméra de télévision à état solide

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4587561A (fr)
EP (1) EP0106368B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS5972871A (fr)
DE (1) DE3365335D1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2274951A (en) * 1993-01-23 1994-08-10 Ark Geophysics Limited A method of noise reduction applicable to continuous-field and other data acquired along lines
US5396293A (en) * 1990-12-27 1995-03-07 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh Filter circuit with bandwidth varied as a function of bit error rate and luminance level
EP1551170A2 (fr) * 2004-01-02 2005-07-06 LG Electronics Inc. Dispositif et méthode de traitement d'image

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH07112249B2 (ja) * 1985-08-19 1995-11-29 ソニー株式会社 撮像信号の処理装置
JPS62130075A (ja) * 1985-12-02 1987-06-12 Sony Corp 映像信号のノイズキヤンセル回路
DE3629536C2 (de) * 1986-08-29 1995-09-21 Broadcast Television Syst Schaltung zur pegelabhängigen Rauschverminderung
JPS63173976U (fr) * 1987-04-30 1988-11-11
JP2543567B2 (ja) * 1988-04-07 1996-10-16 株式会社日立製作所 ダイナミックノイズリダクション回路及びこれを用いたテレビジョン受信機
US5016104A (en) * 1989-06-22 1991-05-14 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Receiver-compatible noise reduction systems
US5371803A (en) * 1990-08-31 1994-12-06 Bellsouth Corporation Tone reduction circuit for headsets
US5438424A (en) * 1991-01-31 1995-08-01 Hitachi, Ltd. Video signal processing apparatus with image quality adjustment
EP0647062B1 (fr) * 1993-09-30 1998-08-05 STMicroelectronics S.r.l. Architecture de filtre, en particulier pour des applications vidéo
US5701352A (en) * 1994-07-14 1997-12-23 Bellsouth Corporation Tone suppression automatic gain control for a headset
US5834625A (en) * 1996-08-21 1998-11-10 Eastman Kodak Company Apparatus and method for debubbling a discrete sample of liquid
US6441866B1 (en) * 1999-01-14 2002-08-27 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Edge enhancement with background noise suppression in video image processing

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3333055A (en) * 1963-06-01 1967-07-25 Fernseh Gmbh Apparatus for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of a television signal
GB1080643A (en) * 1963-10-05 1967-08-23 Fernseh Gmbh Circuit arrangement for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in colour television signals
GB1393152A (en) * 1971-05-04 1975-05-07 Philips Electronic Associated Noise reduction circuit
DE2723172A1 (de) * 1976-05-21 1977-11-24 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Rauschunterdrueckungsvorrichtung

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2717931A (en) * 1950-07-29 1955-09-13 Rca Corp Circuit for varying amplifier gain and frequency response with signal amplitude
US3872387A (en) * 1972-09-29 1975-03-18 Zenith Radio Corp Frequency response modifier for fixed-tuned IF amplifiers

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3333055A (en) * 1963-06-01 1967-07-25 Fernseh Gmbh Apparatus for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of a television signal
GB1080643A (en) * 1963-10-05 1967-08-23 Fernseh Gmbh Circuit arrangement for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in colour television signals
GB1393152A (en) * 1971-05-04 1975-05-07 Philips Electronic Associated Noise reduction circuit
DE2723172A1 (de) * 1976-05-21 1977-11-24 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Rauschunterdrueckungsvorrichtung

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5396293A (en) * 1990-12-27 1995-03-07 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh Filter circuit with bandwidth varied as a function of bit error rate and luminance level
GB2274951A (en) * 1993-01-23 1994-08-10 Ark Geophysics Limited A method of noise reduction applicable to continuous-field and other data acquired along lines
EP1551170A2 (fr) * 2004-01-02 2005-07-06 LG Electronics Inc. Dispositif et méthode de traitement d'image
EP1551170A3 (fr) * 2004-01-02 2008-04-02 LG Electronics Inc. Dispositif et méthode de traitement d'image

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4587561A (en) 1986-05-06
EP0106368B1 (fr) 1986-08-13
JPS5972871A (ja) 1984-04-24
DE3365335D1 (en) 1986-09-18

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